As we mark the 81st anniversary of D-Day, Americans must remember not only the courage displayed on the beaches of Normandy but also what that sacrifice was intended to achieve. More than 156,000 Allied troops crossed the English Channel on June 6, 1944. Roughly 10,000 became casualties, including more than 4,400 who lost their lives. They were fighting to defeat fascism – an ideology built on authoritarianism, ultranationalism, racial supremacy and the destruction of democratic institutions.
The Allied victory in World War II was not inevitable. It required extraordinary military sacrifice and unprecedented international cooperation. American, British, Canadian, French, Polish and other Allied forces fought together because they understood that no nation could defeat fascism alone. D-Day was the beginning of the end for Hitler’s regime and, importantly, a turning point in humanity’s struggle against one of history’s most destructive political movements.
What followed was equally important. The generation that defeated fascism understood that military victory alone was not enough. They built a new international order designed to prevent its return. NATO, the Marshall Plan, the United Nations and other postwar institutions were founded on a simple premise: Democracies are stronger when they work together, and peace is more secure when nations are bound by common rules and shared commitments. The U.S. and its Western allies built more secure and prosperous societies with unparalleled economic and technological prowess that made the U.S. the leader of the free world. The free world is defined by countries united by governments with representative democracies, capitalist economies, and protections for human rights and civil liberties.
Donald Trump has repeatedly undermined NATO, the most successful military alliance in modern history. He has threatened allies with abandonment while expressing admiration for strongmen and authoritarian leaders in countries formerly considered enemies who openly challenge democratic norms. His administration has weakened America’s credibility abroad and fostered uncertainty among nations that have long relied on U.S. leadership.
He has not only rejected the values and legacy of the Greatest Generation that emerged after World War II, but has also undermined one of our nation’s most important assets – its reputation – and put our prosperity at risk. The separation of powers has weakened, and respect for the rule of law has eroded. Grift fills the pockets of Trump, his family and friends, while fueling an unjust war with Iran that threatens our economic resilience. Critics argue that he has alienated both supporters and longtime allies in pursuit of greater power and personal gain. Under Trump, the federal government borrowed $1.7 trillion over the past year – June 2025 to May 2026 – based on estimates from the Congressional Budget Office. The CBO further estimates that in May 2026, the deficit is $76 billion higher than May 2025. Of this, about $35 billion thus far has been spent on the war with Iran.
In remembrance of the D-Day anniversary, Americans must ask which vision better honors the sacrifices made on those beaches: the vision that defeated fascism, built a democratic international order and led the free world for generations – or the one that treats allies as adversaries, dismisses democratic norms as inconveniences and steadily erodes the foundations of American leadership and power.
So, what can we do to stop this slide into fascism and authoritarianism?
Vote. Voting is a fundamental responsibility in a government that serves its people. As Colorado primary ballots arrive in mailboxes, it is important for each of us to take the time to learn about the candidates. Decisions should not be based solely on party affiliation, but on a candidate’s record, actions and values. Our responsibility is to look beyond campaign speeches and consider how candidates have voted while in office and how they demonstrate their principles in daily life. The choice belongs to each voter, and our power to shape the future can only be exercised by participating. We owe this commitment to those who came before us and to future generations.
Long live America, land of the free and the brave!
Paul N. Black, Ph. D., and Concetta C. DiRusso, Ph. D., spent 35 years as biomedical scientists and are Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Black is a Fellow of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and DiRusso served as a Jefferson Science Fellow working with USAID. They live in Durango.